Man United have been scouting the big Argentine international for some weeks and continued injury concerns over Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand’s age are factors that could lead the Premier League to make an offer that is amenable to the Lisbon based side, who are said to suffering with significant financial concerns.

Ferguson sees Garay as a long term replacement for Ferdinand and is keen to strengthen a back-line that has looked incredibly vulnerable all season, indeed but for theie goal-scoring exploits the Old Trafford club would certainly not find themselves in such a strong position at the top of the Premier League table.

Garay has successfully re-ignited a career that was stagnating at the Bernabeu, however any move to further improve his career by a move to Man United could well be hampered by the fact that a large portion of any fee for the 26 year old will go to Real Madrid, meaning Benfica will be asking for a fairly hefty price for the Rosario born defender.